I've wondered the same thing about heat shields myself. My brother got one last year and swears it makes a difference, but honestly, when I visited, I couldn't really tell. Maybe it's one of those subtle things you only notice if you're really looking for it? Still, catching embers is probably half the battle anyway...so if your mat's already doing that job, maybe you're good without spending more money. Has anyone actually had deck damage even with a mat or shield?
We had a mat under ours for a while, and honestly, it did fine catching embers. But we noticed the deck boards underneath still got pretty warm after longer fires. Never had actual damage, but it made me wonder if heat shields might help with long-term wear on the wood or finish. Has anyone checked their deck closely after using a fire pit regularly over a few seasons? Curious if there's subtle stuff happening we're not noticing right away...
"Never had actual damage, but it made me wonder if heat shields might help with long-term wear on the wood or finish."
Heat shields can help, but honestly, I'd reconsider placing a fire pit directly on a wooden deck long-term. Even without visible damage, repeated heating and cooling cycles can weaken the wood fibers over time, potentially shortening the lifespan of your deck boards. I've seen decks that looked fine initially but developed subtle warping or discoloration after a few seasons. Maybe consider elevating the pit slightly or using stone pavers underneath to diffuse heat better...
"Maybe consider elevating the pit slightly or using stone pavers underneath to diffuse heat better..."
Good point about elevating it—I went that route with mine and it made a noticeable difference. Also, I've heard from neighbors that heat shields can help a lot, but they're not foolproof. Wood decking tends to dry out and get brittle over time, so even indirect heat can speed that up. Honestly, throwing down some brick or stone slabs is probably the safest bet long-term...cheap and easy peace of mind.
Elevating definitely helps, but I wouldn't rely solely on that. A few years back, I had mine raised on bricks thinking it was enough, but after a couple of seasons, the decking underneath still showed signs of drying out and minor cracking. Nothing catastrophic, thankfully, but enough to make me reconsider.
Ended up laying down some stone slabs beneath it—nothing fancy, just basic pavers from the hardware store—and it made a huge difference. The deck stayed cooler, and I felt way less anxious about leaving the pit going for longer evenings. Also noticed the wood decking didn't seem as brittle after that.
Heat shields are decent too, but like you said, they're not bulletproof. I'd say combining elevation with some kind of stone or brick barrier is probably your best bet. It's cheap insurance against potential damage down the road...and honestly, peace of mind counts for a lot when you're trying to relax around a fire pit.
